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RECORD DATE NOT STATED Formula 1 2023: Australian GP MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 02: Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday April 02, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Lionel Ng / Sutton Images Images PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY GP2303_104422LN3_5729

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RECORD DATE NOT STATED Formula 1 2023: Australian GP MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 02: Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday April 02, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Lionel Ng / Sutton Images Images PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY GP2303_104422LN3_5729
Remember how Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat were demoted for underperforming compared to their Red Bull teammate? By now people have genuinely started believing that the second Red Bull seat is cursed. As this cursed seat tries to bring Sergio Perez and his aspirations down with dark moments, Max Verstappen refuses to take any responsibility and forgets how Checo helped him in securing the 2021 title against Lewis Hamilton. What did Max Verstappen say?
Sergio Perez at the start of the season looked like a title contender. Everyone thought the Mexican driver would challenge Max Verstappen. However, in the last couple of races, whilst the Dutchman has taken his domination to the next level, Sergio Perez hasn’t been able to make it to Q3 with Canada being the 3rd race without a Q3 appearance. Even if Checo isn’t able to challenge for the title, one cannot forget how good of a teammate Checo has been. It was the Mexican who helped Verstappen by holding Lewis Hamilton up during the title-deciding race back in 2021.

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Formula 1 2023: Bahrain GP BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN – MARCH 05: Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, in the press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz during the Bahrain GP at Bahrain International Circuit on Sunday March 05, 2023 in Sakhir, Bahrain. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images Images PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY GP2301_183638MS3_3307
The media asked Max Verstappen whether he was looking over the problems that Checo has been facing throughout the weekend in Canada. Verstappen himself struggled with downshifts during the practice session. The Dutchman advised that he was busy getting his car sorted out during the Free Practice & seemed unsympathetic toward Perez’s issues.
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According to a Tweet posted by @FastestPitStop, Verstappen said, “The team must be working on that maybe, but you have to ask them. On Friday, of course, I was already busy getting the car better, so then I’m not going to think about that. It’s not my problem.”
Max Verstappen on if he was taking notice of his teammate Sergio Perez's issues so far this weekend:
“The team must be working on that maybe, but you have to ask them. On Friday, of course, I was already busy getting the car better, so then I'm not going to think about that.… pic.twitter.com/Wi9JY8xQ8I
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) June 18, 2023
Nevertheless, Max Verstappen debriefed on his qualifying session explaining how everything went smoothly for him with the team making the right decisions. However, Sergio Perez wasn’t that lucky. Let’s see what Checo had to say about his qualifying
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Sergio Perez sums up his subpar performance at the Canadian qualifying
Sergio Perez looked like at least a Top 5 contender for the qualifying before the mishaps of Q2. It all started when Alex Albon on dry tires started pumping great lap times in. Looking at the Thai driver, many pitted for slicks. However, by the time Sergio Perez pitted, the rain started falling again which meant the Mexican had to switch back to intermediate tires. Ultimately, the Mexican throughout the Q2 session was on the wrong tires at the wrong time.

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Formula One F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – June 3, 2023 Red Bull’s Sergio Perez during qualifying REUTERS/Nacho Doce/Pool
Post-qualifying, Perez told Sky Sports F1 “Once we went on to the slick tire, track position wasn’t great, we were probably half a lap late and once the temperature was on the tire then we just couldn’t get it through. It was raining harder and I was stuck behind the Alfa Romeo, so that second lap when things were getting better, it was raining harder. So we went back on the inter and it started raining even harder.”
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Considering Sergio Perez has an invaluable contribution to Verstappen’s title triumphs, Max’s ruthless comments always raise questions. Still, even Checo knows that they are competitors, so hopefully, he won’t mind & focus on getting his form back. What do you make of Verstappen’s views on Checo’s troubles?
WATCH THIS STORY | Will Daniel Ricciardo Get Swapped in for Sergio Perez at Red Bull?
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